Building block



July 4, 1933. Y- M. A. GRlEco BUILDING BLOCK Filed Nov. 16, 1929 fave/2507 Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE MICHAEL A. GRIECO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR F FOBTY PER CENT TO RAYMOND L. JOHNSONQOFOHICAGO, ILLINOIS BUILDING BLOCK Application led `lovembcr 16, 1.929. Serial No. 407,585.

The invention relates to building blocks and to a novel method of producing the same, its principal object consists inproviding a building block which is principally composed of a plurality of natural stones.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a building block which is distinguished by its ornamental appearance and its superior utility as compared with the present type of building blocks. i

It is a further object vof the invention to provide a building block which has great-tensile strength and nevertheless can be produced in amore inexpensive way than the present type of. blocks. A

A still further object aims in providing building blocks which can be arranged to form a wall with the joints being rendered invisible. j

A still further object aims at providing building blocks, faces of which are formed by a plurality of natural stones defining with their outermost portions a common vertical plane ywhich the remainder of the faces are also in a common vertical plane but slightly inward of the first mentioned plane and being colored to present an ornamental and attractive appearance forming a background for the natural stones.

Other and equally important objects will become apparent from a perusal of the invention which comprises the means and the method for producing such means described in the following` specification, particularly pointed out in the claim forming a part thereof and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,v

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a wall composed of building blocks made in accordance 0 with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3is a perspective view cfa finished building block. Y T Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a finished wall with the joints of the blocks removed from view. i Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a corner r building block, and "o Fig. 6 is a section in perspective of the form in which a building block has been cast.

Referring to the several views of the drawing, 10 generally designates the buildin block which has lncorporated a plurality o l natural stones 11 and as indicated, these nat- 56 ural stones slightly protrude from the face 0f theblock with the outermostpoints in a common vertical plane.

Preferably, althou h not exclusively, anite stones are used w ich have a colore appearance due to their composition of feldspar, hornblende and quartz. As the mineral composition of granite stones varies, the color varies so that a variety of colors may be4 presented when stones are assembled in a 85 building block.

In order to produce a` buildingblock, a form such as a box 12 (Fig. 6 open at the top but closed on all other si es 1s utilized and a layer of molding sand 13 of one inch I0 thickness is provided on the bottom 14 of the form. Thereupon', a plurality of stones 11 are placed in the sand so that the stones rest on the bottom 14 and are thus held with the lowermostv portion in a common plane. On the'molding sand, a layer of colored waterproofing composition 15 is provided which is applied in a thickness of approximately one and one-half inches between contiguous points of adjacent stones.

The color of the joints thus provided for the stones may be varied to meet special requirementsof taste or harmonious appearance. Thus the joints maybe provided with brown, red, grey, black or whlte color or in 35 combination thereof, either to harmonize or contrast with the color of the natural stones, so that when the building blocks are assembled to form a wall an artistic impression will 9o be created.

'A light coat`16 of weather-proofing material is next applied over the colored joints to make itrweather or moisture proof and then a layer ot about two and one-half inch thickness of concrete is poured into the form.

To impart strength to the building block, 'a reinforcing frame 17 which ma be a plurality of bars or a frame is place on the concrete layer and subsequently additional c0ncrete is poured to ill up the entire form.

After the concrete has set and become hard, the building block is removed from the form and is ready for use. The blocks are provided with grooves 9.0 at the top, bottom and sides and when assembled, the grooves form interspaces which are filled with cement mortar. t

In constructing sembled so that the ljoints are staggered and after assembling, the joints are then eliminated from view by applying colored Waterproofing composition thereto as indicated in Figure 4 and when completed, the Wall looks like a uniform structure showing no joints whatever. s

The building block made in accordance With my invention is impervious to Water or air and is heat and sound proof and can be made in a very short time at considerably less expense than the building blocks or bricks now utilized. In assembling the building blocks, ties are applied as` is well known by those versed in the art.

While the drawing shows a preferred em walls, the blocks l0 are asy truding therefrom a substantial distance, a

light coat of Weather proong material lpon said body portion between the protru ing portions of said stone, a layer of colored wa ter proofing com osition superposed upon said Weatherproohng material, and a reinforcing frame within said bod portion at substantially the plane defined by the inner ends of said natural tone.

In witness whereof I ax m MICHAEL A.

si ature.

RI CO. 

